A collection of reviews of films from off the beaten path; a travel guide for those who love the cinematic world and want more than the mainstream releases.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Carol (2015) New York Film Festival 2015

Cate Blanchett at the New York Film Festival screening of CAROL

CAROL confused me. I'm so used to bleak Patricia Highsmith stories that I expected the romance at the center of the film to end with some one dead. I'm going to spoil things slightly and say no one dies, and by Highsmith standards its positively cheery. Actually in another five years its going to be considered a grand romance.

The plot of the film has shop girl Rooney Mara and housewife Cate Blanchett meeting in the toy department of the store Mara works in. There i an instant attraction and before long the pair begin a dance that leads to what in 1951 would be called the love that dare not speak it's name.

A well made and well acted romance is classical in construction. If it weren't for the fact that the lovers are two women the film would almost be considered run of the mill. We've seen variations of this story for years but never like this from a major studio release. Its kind of heartening that so close to the adoption of same sex marriage we get such a solid romance.

As much as I like the film, and I do like the film, I think its being wildly over sold by the Weinsteins. The film is very good but it is not Oscar material. Yes both of the women are quite good but they are not going to win the Oscars the producers are hoping for. And the HUGE WTF related to the awards quest is that Mara is being considered for a supporting actress nod when she's on screen as much as if not more than Blanchett

Definitely one to see when it hit theaters soon. If you're in New York the film is getting an encore screening tomorrow (10/11) at the New York Film Festival. For more information and tickets go here.